Artificial light makes it harder for nocturnal pollinators to find flowers and avoid predators

If you live in the Global North or one of the rapidly urbanizing parts of the Global South, there may be a stark lack of darkness. The thing that has been a defining feature of the night is gone. Unceasing human activity — all those lights — means the night sky now has a slight red glow to it. This skyglow is the result of light pollution, and it has far reaching consequences on human health, ecosystems, and animal behavior.

One such behavior is nocturnal pollination. The world is currently facing the imminent threat of loss of pollinators. Lesser known, but equally critical, pollinating animals are nocturnal pollinators like elephant hawkmoths.